23-24

Skier Triggered Avalanches in the Butte Area

Red Mountain
Out of Advisory Area
Code
AS
Elevation
9200
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.77170
Longitude
-112.48600
Notes

Skiers in the Highland Mountains near Butte triggered 2 avalanches on the NE ridge of Red Mountain. The first is a remotely triggered avalanche that was triggered from the ridgeline above. The second happened while a skier "ski cut the slope". This one was noted at 300' wide and 1' deep at the crown. 

Number of slides
2
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Trigger
Skier
Slab Thickness
12.0 inches
Slab Width
300.00ft
Images
Skier Triggered Avalanche in Highland Mountains 2
Skier Triggered Avalanche in Highland Mountains 1
Remotely Triggered Avalanche on Red Mountain
Snow Observation Source
Ski Cut Avalanche Highland Mountains. NE Facing Ridge.
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
23-24

Remotely Triggered Avalanches Near Hyalite Peak

Hyalite Peak
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-ASr-R1-D1
Latitude
45.38390
Longitude
-110.95600
Notes

From Obs: "We skinned up towards Hyalite peak today to see how the snowpack was adjusting to this new load. While we did see some point release on the canyon walls during our approach, there was no collapsing and minimal wind effect below 9000 feet. As soon as we topped out into the hyalite lake basin, a northerly wind picked up and there were supportable wind drifts scatted about. Got an ECTx on a northern aspect at 9200' before deciding to ascend a 25 degree adjacent slope. About 50' from our pit we remotely triggered two D1 slab avalanches which broke on the roll over 150' above us. Crowns looked between 1-2' and 20-30' wide. The larger of the two ran 100' more or less. Yikes, time to bail! The low angle tree skiing along the skinner was quite nice."

Number of slides
2
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
r-A remote avalanche released by the indicated trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
18.0 inches
Slab Width
30.00ft
Images
Remotely Triggered Avalanche, Hyalite Peak 2
Remotely Triggered Avalanche, Hyalite Peak 1
Snow Observation Source
Remote Trigger Near Hyalite Peak
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
23-24

Large collapse hyalite

Date
Activity
Skiing

Was attempting to find a few small safe powder pockets up in hyalite today. Was pretty unsuccessful, collapsing was happening the entire ski up but didn’t seem to be super unstable. Soon as I got the some open low angel area I had a major collapse probably 50 foot circle around me that was very loud. At this point I turned around. Snow was very different depths all the way up. Areas I could put my poles (110) almost under the snow other places the snow was only inches. Also noted a hard layer about 6 inches down that was good snow with light powder on top and sugar underneath. 
 

(Was skining up the road to the strip east of the peak.)

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Elephant Mountain
Observer Name
Sawyer Haupt
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